B. J. Reith

Bernardus Antonius J. Reith

(16 October 1894 - 17 August 1974, The Netherlands)

Bernardus Antonius J. Reith studied drawing at the Rijksnormaalschool in Amsterdam, which at that time was situated in the tower of the Rijksmuseum. He became a teacher of drawing and art history and wrote articles about painting and sculpting for magazine De Katholieke Illustratie.

Monki saves a captured Popeye by putting spinach in his bowl...

He also wrote a few books about art: 'Nederlandse schilders', '100 jaar kerkenbouw in Nederland', 'De Zeven Wereldwonderen en andere verhalen', 'Het hoogste menselijk kunnen' and 'Vlugge Slang', an illustrated schoolbook about missionary work in Africa. Bernard Reith also illustrated the reprint of Louis Couperus' 'Psyche' and retold and drew various well-known fairytales.

Monki's Reis Om De Wereld (Okki, 27-3-1941)

Bernardus Antonius Reith made one comic, 'Monki's Reis om de Wereld', about the world travels of a little monkey. It was published in magazine OKKI between 1936 and 1941 and later in De Katholieke Illustratie and Sjors in 1947/48. At publisher De Spaarnestad eight albums appeared: 'Monki in Afrika', 'Monki in Amerika', 'Monki op Bali', 'Monki met Popeye op de Oceaan' (featuring the Elzie Segar creation Popeye), 'Monki met Popeye in China', 'Monki in Nederland', 'Monki in Artis' and 'Monki komt thuis'. Bernardus Reith also wrote the story 'Bobo, het eskimojongetje', illustrated by Jan Lutz.